Teens Linked to Drive-By Shootings

Over the past week, Loudoun County Sheriff's investigators arrested four teens in conjunction with a series of burglaries and drive-by shootings.

On Thursday, Aug. 3, the Sheriff’s Office charged an 11-year-old and 17-year-old with separate July burglaries, linked to last month’s drive-by shootings in Sterling.

Earlier this week, Sheriff’s Investigators arrested two 16-year-old Sterling boys in connection with July 19 drive-by shooting in Sterling Park.

Loudoun County Sheriffs allege the teens shot at five homes in the area of Aster Terrace, Holborn Court and North Argonne Avenue. They say the boys used two stolen weapons while driving a stolen car. One man sleeping in his bedroom on Coventry Square was hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

ON JULY 11, a 17-year-old Park View High School student, along with one of the drive-by shooting suspects, entered a North Amelia Street home and stole computer hardware and a key to a 1997 Toyota Corolla, say sheriffs. Sheriffs believe the same car was used in the shootings eight days later.

On July 15, the two shooting suspects, an 11-year-old boy and another 16-year-old broke into a Cameron Court home and stole three guns, two of which were involved in the shootings, sheriffs say. The burglary was reported to the Sheriff’s Office by a neighbor watching the home while the owners were on vacation.

Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kraig Troxell said the 11-year-old and 17-year-old were not directly involved in the July 19 shootings.

"There's a connection," Troxell said. "The key to the stolen car and the stolen weapons indirectly connect the teens to the crime."

Sheriff Steve Simpson said the 11-year-old and 17-year-old were not involved in the drive-by shootings, but that the burglaries and drive-by shootings are gang related.

THE TWO DRIVE-BY shooting suspects are being held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Leesburg.

The 11-year-old was charged with burglary and two counts of grand larceny. The 17-year-old was charged with burglary and petit larceny. Commonwealth’s Attorney James Plowman said the hearings will begin next Thursday.

The shooting suspects have been charged with malicious wounding, five counts of firing a missile into an occupied dwelling, five counts of reckless use of a firearm, one count of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony, burglary, auto theft and arson.

Plowman said the teens will come into the system as juveniles, but it is likely they will be charged as adults, based on the severity of crimes they are being charged with.